Tokyo Olympics: Mahoor Shahzad, Pakistan’s first badminton player to qualify for the Olympics admires Saina Nehwal

Tokyo Olympics: Mahoor Shahzad, Pakistan’s first badminton player to qualify for the Olympics admires Saina Nehwal

Mahoor Shahzad and Saina Nehwal

Mahoor Shahzad broke records and became the first Pakistan badminton player ever to qualify for the Olympics. The player is currently ranked 144 in the world among the women’s singles players and will now feature in the Tokyo Olympics 2021.

Mahoor is the number one badminton player from Pakistan and her recent performances and ranking has earned her a place in the Tokyo Olympics.

“My dream has come true. I can’t believe I will represent Pakistan in the Olympics. I will live up to expectations and raise the green crescent flag,” said Mahoor in an interview with Pakistan’s Geo.tv.

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Mahoor stated that if she had been able to compete in international competitions in the previous year, she would have been among the top 100 badminton players in the world. However, because of the COVID-19 outbreak, she was unable to do so.

“A dream has certainly come true,” Mahoor Shahzad

She expressed her happiness on Twitter quoting that it is dream come true to feature in the Olympics. Mahoor also thanked everyone who supported him and prayed for her success.

“A dream has certainly come true. Alhumdulillah, I have been selected for Tokyo Olympics 2020. This is a great accomplishment for Pakistan as I am the first Pakistani Badminton player to qualify for Olympics. I am really thankful to all of you for your prayers and support,” wrote Mahoor Shahzad.

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Back in 2018 the shuttler had also mentioned that she is a huge admirer of Indian champion player Saina Nehwal. Both of them faced in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where Nehwal defeated her in straight sets of 21-7 and 21-11.

Pakistan is slipping behind in badminton, according to the Mahoor. Steps should be done in this direction and her status as the first shuttler to compete in the Olympics speaks for itself.

Mahoor may not be a medal contender, but she will carry the pride of Pakistan’s 21 million people with her to Tokyo. And this huge milestone of Mahoor might transform the country’s badminton infrastructure.

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